Pontoon boat



J. T. BEAMS Aug. 11,- 1964 PONTOON BOAT Fiied June 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jessie 7. Beams INVENTOR.

J. T. BEAMS PONTOON BOAT Aug. 11, 1964 Filed June 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n Q m m I B 1 I it I n H m m t I n x u a N 9k Q United States Patent 3,143,992 PONTOQN BOAT Jessie T. Beams, 3200 3rd Ave, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,448 4 Claims. (Cl. 114-61) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in boats of the catamaran type particularly although by no means necessarily, for fishermen and other sportsmen, and hasfor its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a boat of this character comprising a novel manual propulsion mechanism.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a sportsmens boat of the aforementioned character which embodies unique steering means.

Still another highly important object of the invention is to provide a pontoon boat or catamaran comprising an operators seat which is mounted for horizontal as well as rotary and vertical adjustment in a novel manner.

Another object is to provide a sportsmens catamaran wherein the floats or pontoons are utilized as bait or live boxes.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a fishermans boat of the character described which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, seaworthy and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a boat constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the steering means;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary View in transverse section on an enlarged scale through one of the floats or pontoons, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in transverse section through the means for supporting the horizontally adjustable seat.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pair of spaced, parallel floats or pontoons of suitable dimensions which are designated generally by reference numeral 7. The pontoons 7 may also be of any desired materials. The pontoons 7 are fixed beneath the longitudinal marginal portions of a rectangular deck 8 of suitable length and width. Exr tending around the marginal portions of the deck 8 is a guard rail 9. Extending across the rear end portion of stem of the deck 8 is a bar 10. The bar 10 provides a mount for an outboard motor 11. It will be noted that, in the embodiment shown, the pontoons 7 project beyond the ends of the deck 8 and said pontoons terminate in oppositely inclined ends 12.

The deck 8 forms the tops of the pontoons 7. At intermediate points the pontoons 7 are provided with pairs of transverse partitions or bulkheads 13 extending between the sides of the pontoons and defining bait or live boxes 14 therebetween. The lower portions of the compartments or boxes 14 are provided with drain plugs 15. At best seen in FIGURE 5 of the drawing, the marginal portions of the deck 8 which overlie the pontoons 7 are provided with access openings 16 to the compartments or boxes 14. Removable covers or hatches 17 are provided for the openings 16.

3,143,992 Patented Aug. 11., 1964 Suspended from the deck 8 at an intermediate point immediately adjacent the inner walls of the pontoons 7 is a pair of generally U-shaped hangers 18. The hangers 18 have mounted therein suitable bearings in which the end portions of a shaft 19 are journaled. A pair of spaced paddle wheels 29 are fixedly mounted on the shaft 19. Mounted on the top of the deck 8 at an intermediate point is a pair of standards 21. A shaft 22 is journaled in the standards 21 and has foot pedals 23 fixed on its end portions. The shaft 22 is operatively connected to the paddle wheel shaft 19 through a belt and pulley drive 24.

Adjacent one side of the standards 21 a generally T-shaped steering shaft 25 is vertically mounted. In the embodiment shown, the lower end portion of the vertical steering shaft 25 is journaled in a tubular hearing or sleeve 26 on the deck 8. Afiixed to the lower portion of the shaft 25 is an arm 27. A link 28 operatively connects the arm 27 to an arm 29 on the upper end portion of a rudder shaft 30. The shaft 39 is journaled in a suitable bearing 31 which is provided therefor in the deck 8. Fixed on the lower portion of the shaft 30 is a rudder 32 Mounted on the rear portion of the deck 8 withinconvenient reach of the foot pedals 23 and the handle 34 of the steering shaft 25 is an operators seat which is designated generally by reference numeral 35. The seat 35 includes a base 36 comprising, in the embodiment shown, a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal channel bars 37.

The bars 37 are connected by means including threaded rods 38 (FIGURE 6) extending through openings provided therefor the end portions of said bars. Nuts 39 are threaded on the rods 33 on the inner and outer sides of the bars 37 for securing said bars in adjusted position on said rods. Downwardly divergent pairs of 'front and rear legs 40 support the bars 37 on the deck 8'. Mounted for sliding adjustment between the bars 37 is a large square nut, plate or block 41 of suitable metal. Threadedly mounted for vertical adjustment in the nut, block or plate 41 is the vertical supporting stem or shaft 42 of a seat 43. The seat 43 is provided with a suitable backrest 44.

Mounted on the deck 8 forwardly of the pedals 23 but within reach of the steering shaft 25 is a swivel chair 45. The chair 45 includes a base 46 which is secured to the deck 8. Threadedly mounted for vertical adjustment in the top 47 of the base structure 46 is the stem or shaft 48 of a seat 49. Th seat 49 is substantially similar to the seat 43 and includes a backrest 50.

It is thought that the operation of the boat will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the outboard motor 11 may be utilized for propelling the boat to a fishing area. When fishing, particularly while trolling, the paddle wheels 20 are utilized for propelling and maneuvering the boat. Of course, the operator sits on the chair 35 and drives the paddle wheels 20 through the pedals 23 and the belt and pulley connection 24. To steer the boat the shaft 25 is rotated in an obvious manner. This may also be done by the occupant of the circle swivel 45. Still further, the boat may be propelled, if desired, by the occupant of the chair 45. The horizontal adjustability of the swivel chair 35 permits the occupant thereof to operate the steering and propulsion mechanisms and attend to the outboard motor 11 without vacating said chair. This constitutes an important and desirable feature of the present invention. Through the medium of the nuts 39 the nut, block or plate 41 which carries the chair 35 may, if desired, be clamped in adjusted position between the bars 37. The rudder 32 may be frictionally or otherwise secured in set position against idle swinging movement in any suitable manner. With the seat 35 in the position of FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the paddle wheels 20 are manually rotated for propelling the boat which is simultaneously steered with one hand through the medium of the conveniently located handle 34. For the return trip, the operator shifts the chair 35 rearwardly for access to the outboard motor 11.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A catamaran comprising a pair of spaced, parallel and upwardly opening open top pontoons, a deck mounted from and extending across at least portions of the open tops of and between said pontoons and constituting the tops of said portions thereof, said deck having openings therein communicating with the interior of said pontoons for providing access thereto, propulsion means mounted on the deck, said pontoons including spaced bulkheads extending between the sides of said pontoons and providing live bait boxes communicating with the access openings, removable hatches on the deck closing said access openings, said pontoons having openings therein communicating the lower portions of the bait boxes with the atmosphere, and removable closures on the pontoons for the last-named openings.

2. A boat comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced, parallel pontoons, a deck mounted on said pontoons, separate propulsion means mounted at spaced points on the deck, and an operators chair mounted on the deck between the propulsion means, said chair being secured to the deck for horizontal adjustment whereby the propulsion means are selectively accessible to an occupant of the chair, said chair comprising a base including a pair of spaced, parallel, opposed channel bars and supporting legs on said bars secured to the deck, a nut mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment between the bars, a vertical stem threaded through the nut for rotary and vertical adjustment, a seat on said stem, and means connecting the bars together with the nut therebetween and for adjust- 4 ment of the bars toward and away from each other for stationarily clamping said nut therebetween.

3. A boat comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced, parallel pontoons, a deck mounted on said pontoons, separate propulsion means mounted at spaced points on the deck, and an operators chair mounted on the deck between the propulsion means, said chair being secured to the deck for horizontal adjustment whereby the propulsion means are selectively accessible to an occupant of the chair, said chair comprising a base including a pair of spaced, parallel, opposed channel bars and suporting legs on said bars secured to the deck, a nut mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment between the bars, a vertical stem threaded through the nut for rotary and vertical adjustment, a seat on said stem, and means connecting the bars together with the nut therebetween and for adjustment of the bars toward and away from each other for stationarily clamping said nut therebetween, said means including rods extending through the bars, and nuts threaded on the rods on opposite sides of the bars for adjusting said bars toward each other.

4. A boat chair comprising a base including a pair of spaced, parallel, opposed channel bars, supporting legs on said channel bars, connecting rods extending through the channel bars, a nut mounted for sliding adjustment between the channel bars, a vertical stem threaded through the nut, a seat on said stem, and nuts threaded on the rods for adjusting the channel bars toward each other for clamping the first-named nut in adjusted position therebetwee References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,430,465 Niemuth Sept. 26, 1922 2,263,911 Wilson Nov. 25, 1941 2,473,874 Ganong June 21, 1949 2,855,885 Thomas Oct. 14, 1958 2,910,035 Johnson Oct. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 157,814 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1921 

1. A CATAMARAN COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL AND UPWARDLY OPENING OPEN TOP PONTOONS, A DECK MOUNTED FROM AND EXTENDING ACROSS AT LEAST PORTIONS OF THE OPEN TOPS OF AND BETWEEN SAID PONTOONS AND CONSTITUTING THE TOPS OF SAID PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID DECK HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID PONTOONS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS THERETO, PROPULSION MEANS MOUNTED ON THE DECK, SAID PONTOONS INCLUDING SPACED BULKHEADS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDES OF SAID PONTOONS AND PROVIDING LIVE BAIT BOXES COMMUNICATING WITH THE ACCESS OPENINGS, REMOVABLE HATCHES ON THE DECK CLOSING SAID ACCESS OPENINGS, SAID PONTOONS HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN COMMUNICATING THE LOWER PORTIONS OF THE BAIT BOXES WITH THE ATMOSPHERE, AND REMOVABLE CLOSURES ON THE PONTOONS FOR THE LAST-NAMED OPENINGS. 